Why Cartken pivoted its focus from last-mile delivery to industrial robots

Cartken, an autonomous robotics startup initially focused on last-mile food delivery on college campuses and in Tokyo, has pivoted toward industrial applications for its robots. Co-founder and CEO Christian Bersch explained that while industrial use was always a consideration, interest from companies needing robots for factories and labs revealed a significant market demand. In 2023, Cartken secured its first major industrial client, German manufacturer ZF Lifetec, which repurposed Cartken’s food delivery robot, the Cartken Courier, to transport production samples. This success highlighted the robots’ value in optimizing material and production flows, prompting Cartken to increasingly target industrial sectors. The transition from food delivery to industrial use was facilitated by the robots’ AI, trained on extensive delivery data, enabling them to navigate diverse terrains and obstacles both indoors and outdoors. Cartken expanded its product line with the Cartken Hauler, capable of carrying up to 660 pounds, and the Cartken Runner, designed for indoor deliveries, with plans for